WATCHES & JEWELLERY PHOTOGRAPHY Nov 2013

Achim Küst has an advertising photography studio based in Frankfurt offering photography, post production,and production services. Achim works for a variety of advertising, design and editorial clients, and with his sensitivity for material and feeling for graphic images, he composes unique pictures.

Clients include Procter & Gamble, Lufthansa, Deutsche Bank, Nestlé, Coty, Bosch, Ferrero, Sinn Spezialuhren, Reckit Benckiser, Staatlich Fachingen, Glenlivet, Motorola, Freixenet and many more.

A passion for uniqueness in small details - this is what the pictures of Hamburg-based photographer Tom Seelbach, who is specialised in still life photography, express. Especially when jewellery, watches, interiors, technology and music are in focus.

Tom photographs for companies, agencies and publishing houses alike. With vast experience, technical know-how and a passion for surrealism and Dada in his photography, his objects become distinctive, harmoniously staged, portrayed sometimes unusually but always on-brand.

A closer look at his website gives an overview of the portfolio and working method of this stil life expert.

Dennis Pedersen transforms everyday materials into spectacular, dynamic imagery. It’s an art that he has honed for over 20 years. His studio is highly sought-after by clients from many sectors - all seeking a highly creative response to the photography of their products. Water, ice, heat, materials in flux: like an alchemist, Dennis employs techniques and effects that bring materials and brands to life.

From his studios in Shoreditch, highly accessible to the creative industries of London, Dennis uses technical prowess as well as ingenuity to achieve the effects for which he is known. He has plentiful darkroom experience, and takes a highly trained eye to digital production, always pushing the boundaries of the photographically possible – and his unerring ability to capture the essence of a product. He will also shoot on location and has developed an extensive portfolio ranging from editorial and advertising to PR and point of sale.

Ernest Yiu is a still life photographer specialising in high-end jewellery, watches and luxury goods. With a studio established for more than 15 years, he is based in Hong Kong and is highly respected by famous local and international brands alike.

Striving to present his subjects in an idealised, highly desired way, Ernest offers a complete bespoke service, from creative concept and styling through to post-production.

Further to his passion in jewellery, Ernest obtained the DGA Practical Certificate from The Gemmological Association of Great Britain in 2009. His vast experience in photography and knowledgeable understanding of jewellery design drive him to create visual masterpieces with every shot.

Ernest is rep by Justin Chan Represents.

Visit his website for more information.

Frank Soberay is a still life photographer of soft tones who works out of his studio based in the Stuttgart area.

With a love for detail and precise lighting, Frank photographically carves the subtleties of jewellery and watches, staging them for renowned international clients either still or with a model.

His fully equipped studio offers perfect conditions to control the complete production process, from the first shot through post-production to final file.

French fashion photographer Herve Haddad delivers luxury with every image.

Although brought up in a very creative household, it wasn't until after he met Robert Mapplethorpe in the late '80s, that Herve fell in love with the world of photography and enrolled at the School of Visual Art in New York City. He went on to work at Magnum NYC and to assist highly influential photographers, such as Arnold Newman and Raymond Meier, before establishing himself as a professional photographer in 1997.

Herve has built up an enviable fashion portfolio, photographing advertising campaigns for big brand names such as Louis Vuitton, Swarovski, Piaget, Mauboussin, Guy Laroche and Cartier, as well as editorial campaigns for Marie Claire, Vogue and Elle.

Herve is represented by JSR Agency.

Hesterbrink is the studio around Ulrich Poelert and his team. Ulrich spent several years as assistant in Paris and on the Côte d'Azur in studio and on a location bus, where he had the opportunity to assist photographers like Peter Lindbergh and many others. Having had enough of glamour and glory he decided to go back to his roots and take over a studio in the middle of nowhere. ("Where the f*** is Lage?")

And studio light is just the same as it is in the money-burning capitals, reason enough for Ulrich's clients to realise their campaigns at Hesterbrink, "where you have to pass by a couple of cows on the way there.“

Having been married to a goldsmith for many years, it was indispensable for him to learn a lot about jewellery and to find his passion for jewellery photography.

Jonathan Pollock specialises in jewellery photography, working from his South London studio.

The image of five rings featured in this Spotlight is for a London-based jeweller and will appear on the front page of the company's website.

To view further work, check out Jonathan's website or call him to discuss your next promotion.

Jürgen Jeibmann lives and works in Dresden (Saxony). In his watch photography he links his personal interest in fine chronometers with his photographic passion - which is the same as watch-makers in relation to their masterpieces: perfection up to the finest detail.

With a specialised camera system and lighting technique, he shoots premium labels like Glashütte Original, Grossmann Uhren and Lange & Söhne. In 1992 Jürgen moved from his home town Essen to Dresden, where he first worked for Scholz & Friends before founding his atelier. Aside from his photographic work, he also assists film crews when it comes to lighting time pieces.

He recently photographed a large-format 2014 calendar featuring watches from six manufacturers from Glashütte.

Contact Jürgen direct for more information.

Neilson Photography is an award-winning studio specialising in fine jewellery photography, watch photography and the production of marketing images for luxury goods. The company shoots for agencies, brands, retailers, designers and manufacturers in the industry from its secure studio in Glasgow for clients around the world.

Neilson Photography utilises Phase One digital backs, mounted on architectural view cameras with Rondenstock and Schneider lenses to give the most vibrant and high resolution shots possible.

Clients include Garrard, ROX , Laing, Stephen Webster, Tolkowsky, Bremont, Kennett, Storywheels and Holler, to name but a few.

With over 20 years' experience in still life photography, Olaf Koester specialises in watches, jewellery, interiors, clothes and accessories.

His studio is located in the south of Bavaria, close to Switzerland and Austria.

Olaf works with international clients and advertising agencies, producing images in the studio and on location. His passion is watch photography and he regularly works for renowned timepiece magazine Chronos.

He handles his own post-production including colour management and high-end retouching.

Visit his website for more information.

Still life photographer Omer Knaz moved to London from Tel Aviv in 1998 to pursue his long-held passion for photography, and has been working professionally since 2000.

Shooting primarily in the studio, he has developed high-level technical lighting skills in his focus on fashion and still life photography.

Omer has recently shot for Boodles, Harrods Magazine, Grazia, How To Spend It and Vogue.

He is represented by JSR Agency.

With more than 20 years' experience as a freelancer in the world of professional photography, and thanks to collaboration with great artists such as Albert Watson, Annie Leibovitz, Aldo Fallai and Helmut Newton, Paolo Volonté has achieved the necessary skills to develop his own photographic style.

Flexibility and versatility are his strongest points, ranging from still life and fashion to portraiture. Paolo's deep knowledge of light and its potential, as well as his continuous research into digital imaging and post-production, have consolidated the expertise of his studio. Collaborations have included some of the biggest Italian and international agencies, such as Young & Rubicam, McCann and Saatchi & Saatchi.

The studio has recently implemented 360° photography, both as a tool for products and as an art form.

Paolo Volonté works in Italy and worldwide.

Rannjan Joawn believes in 'living the moment'. Being a commercial photographer and specialising in jewellery, he tries to make creative use of light, form and composition, hoping to strike a balance between reality and dramatic visuals.

Whether he is on location or in the studio, Rannjan strives towards team involvement and yearns for challenging tasks, doing his best to match up to his clients' needs. Although his partial preference as a fashion and beauty photographer are linked to how he terms “the superficial society,” his proneness towards visuals is purely a depiction of the human form and their emotions. Furthermore, his portraitures translate his vision of the human connection and their body language.

His clients include prestigious names like Chanel, Ogilvy Mather, Polaris, Jaipur Gems, Philippe Ferrandis, ITC Park Group, Bloomsbury London, The Guardian UK, Psychologies, Verve India, and many more.

Rannjan lives in Brussels with his wife and two children, working between Brussels, Paris and India.

Reinhold Schroers specialises in still life photography, shooting high-quality watches, jewellery, precious stones, perfumes and luxury accessories. Located in Dusseldorf, he also provides high quality video productions.

Across both photography and film, Reinhold devotes great care to perfecting lighting for macro shots, with light curves available over only a few millimetres. His goal is to work out the character of an object by representing the finest facets and structures.

Reinhold uses the latest digital recording technology including innovative, digitally controlled motion control equipment for precise tracking shots and unusual perspectives.

His three studios - one with daylight and an 8m ceiling height - are set in the legendary studio spaces of Josef Beuys. From composing to proofs, he guarantees the entire workflow with outstanding quality.

Scott Goodwin has been shooting personally and professionally for over 25 years. Although his studios are located in Boston and Ipswich, MA, he shoots both domestically and internationally.

Scott particularly enjoys the variety of challenges that the diversity of his assignments brings. He will be shooting on location abroad one week, followed the next by in-studio food photography. From location to food to fashion, Scott adds his trained eye and creative talents alongside an even temperament that keeps the shoot together and moving. The usage of his final work varies from gallery exhibitions to advertising, billboards, collateral, in-store displays, annual reports and now video.

Scott not only diversifies his abilities in photography, but his personal hobbies are also broad ranged. He shoots competitive Skeet, is a certified Re-breather scuba diver, has raced cars from Canada to Florida with the Porsche Club, and spends lots of his free time playing tennis and boating around Ipswich.

The Studio Gieske team, based in Pforzheim, is passionate about high-end watch and jewellery photography, with six specialists working accross image-making and picture editing.

The company has shot exclusive collections from Lange+Soehne and Glashütte for many years. The team works with the best high-end cameras and top of the range light equipment, while its on-site digital imaging unit realises all photographic results at the highest level.

Recent location productions took place in historical sites in Dresden and Zwickau. The company is also exclusive photographer for the Wellendorff collection 'Wahre Werte'.

Based in the south of Germany, Studio Miko is specialised mainly in high-end watch and jewellery photography but also successfully works in still life, interior, beauty, fashion, food and advertising.

Since its foundation in 1982 by Franz Miko, the company is now run by his sons Alexander and Michael. The studio works for clients from across Europe and overseas, including Chopard, Vivienne Westwood, Seiko, Versace, s.Oliver, Chronoswiss, Porsche Design, and many more.

The team's work is defined by a clear and natural style in setting up and lighting jewellery that brings out details such as fine metal gradients and sparkling stones. A fully equipped 1000 m² studio, including units for set-building, styling and post-production allows the company to guarantee a high quality workflow, offering everything from look-creation to ready-to-print.

Visit the website to see a full range of work.

Top quality jewellery photography is the main focus of Tanja Schmidt's work. It is also her passion.

"As a photographer, I specialise in jewellery and watches alongside my professional skills in image editing and web design. Strong concepts meet precise handicraft. Creativity, accented light and a love of detail are significant for my shots."

Tanja works happily in the studio and on location at clients' premises all over Germany and Switzerland.

Tim Robinson is a commercial stills photographer with over 20 years' experience. His exceptional lighting ability, attention to detail and creative flair culminate in beautiful images of a wide range of subjects, and his reputation for excellence has earned him the respect of clients worldwide.

From beauty products to fashion accessories, to interiors and lifestyle, Tim is exceptional at it all. His strength and reputation is particularly apparent in his jewellery work. Tim’s extremely steady hand and very critical eye are the reasons so many of Australia’s most exclusive jewellers entrust him to show the brilliance of their jewels.

Clients include Paspaley Pearls, Bonhams, Bunda, Marie Claire, Vogue, GQ, American Express, Virgin Airlines, Qantas, Shiseido, Clarins and Electrolux.